Apple adapter with HDMI contains Lightning on ARM-PC with 256MB of memory [Photos]

Last fall, Apple has presented a number of hardware and software upgrades. In addition to the announcement of new Mac and iPad, the Cupertino-based company began selling branded adapters to connect "Apple" of new products, equipped with port Lightning, to the HDMI and VGA.

It turned out that these adapters are not very common, or rather not ordinary. Inside the Lightning Digital AV Adapter discovered a mini-computer. This was reported by the developers Mac-Transmit and Coda applications from American companies Panic.

Initial concerns about the fact that the 8-pin Lightning does not support video output, and the assumption that Apple is going to transfer this functionality to wireless technology AirPlay, did not materialize. Displays a picture with iPhone 5 and iPad mini can be transmitted directly to the external display. To that end, Apple has released a special adapters Lightning Digital AV Adapter costs $ 49 and the Lightning to VGA Adapter for the same price.

In fact, the first cable that lets you display an image from the iPhone and iPad to an external monitor or TV via HDMI-Interface - this is not a normal adapter with re-solder contacts in a different sequence. Inside the adapter hides a full computer on the ARM processor with its operating system and 256 MB of RAM. This discovery made by developers Panic in testing different ways to display the picture in iOS-devices on the external screen.

Experts said that if the AV-adapter for iPhone and iPad with the old 30-pin port allows you to work with images 1080p, the new model for the interface Lightning-limited resolution of 1600 × 900 pixels. In this case, during the broadcast of the picture has noise inherent in video format MPEG.

"There are many questions. Which operating system is used in the adapter? The adapter runs on a stripped-down version of iOS, which is loaded in a few seconds each time you connect the cable to the device. This may explain the slight delay before the image displayed on the external screen. But why these crazy needed crutches? The only reasonable explanation is the limited capacity of the connector Lightning, which does not allow to work with HDMI-format directly, "- said in a Panic.

It is not known how exactly is encoding / decoding video Lightning Digital AV Adapter, according to developers, a mini-computer takes AirPlay-signal cable, and then converts it into a format HDMI. But now it is clear why a seemingly normal adapter is the same as Raspberry pi.

Internal device connector Lightning in iPhone 5

As with most of the functions of the iPhone 5, the new smaller connector Lightning was known even before the official presentation of the smartphone. True, the blurry picture was hard to understand the new interface - it's not just a compact version of the traditional 30-pin port Apple. The new cable-sided, and a new feature that will add a company that will pay users.

Connector Lightning - an 8-pin standard, but each cable - 16 pin. Thus, as if you did not connect it to the iPhone 5, you get the first time. How is it, told in detail in the publication PCWeek, and it appears that everything is much more complicated than it seems at first glance.

On each side of the Lightning - contacts, numbered from 1 to 8. By checking the experts found that the first top port provides power via USB, and the connectors are symmetrical, that is, the eighth performs the same function. So, if you turn the plug, the contact for the supply will still be in place.

Contact data, however, are quite different, they are asymmetric. That is, if you turn the connector, then they would not be in those places where it is necessary. For example, if you look at the second bottom "pin" for the data, it is electrically connected to the second from the top. So, when you turn the plug, cable ends connect with the wrong contacts smartphone.

Experts attribute this strange circumstance as follows: iPhone 5 dynamically assigns the function "pins" with a special chip inside the phone. Apple said that the connector Lightning uses only the contacts that are needed for specific applications, and accessories. iPhone 5, apparently checks the type of transmitted data and change settings on the fly.

As a result of all this, you can connect the Lightning as you want, and this connector has room for growth in the future. But the complexity of the interface can be explained by the authentication chip inside the cable. It is located on a wire V +, so that without it the cable will not work.

If you think you can easily get a cable from Apple, you need, then you are wrong. Companies do not have enough cable Lightning, and most likely due to the fact that produced them are scarce. Not only because of the difficulties in manufacturing, but also because the cost is much higher than the old 30-pin version. Analysts estimate the cost of Lightning in 3.5 dollars, which is 775% more than the traditional 30-pin cable.

Why Apple select dock connector lightning instead micro-USB

Read iPhone 5 Previews users are aware that the latest smartphone features the new iOS port Lightning. 8-pin (taking into account its metal contacts yet 9) Lighting replaces your bulky 30-pin predecessor, appeared during the first iPod. Despite the fact that Apple promises to slow down through the new terminal, many natural question arose why the company decided to create a new standard, rather than use a universal micro-USB. This question was answered, a former software developer of Apple.

 

“People keep asking why the company refused connector micro-USB. The answer is simple: this interface is not smart enough. The standard includes all five pins: +5 V, ground, 2 pin for digital data and directional contact. If the company chose this connector, most docking stations ceased to work - the device could only charge and sync. Well as micro-USB so small that it supports 2A current needed to charge the new iPad “, - said the expert.

As you know, in addition to opportunities for using docking stations, Lighting has high durability and reliability. Lighting for no matter which party is inserted in the connector. This is certainly convenient for most users. In Apple believe that the strategic advantages of using this connector justify temporary difficulties.